In Celebration of Childhood: Doll and Crib Quilts from the Pilgrim/Roy Collection

A quilt welcomes a child into the world.  Antique quilts are often more valuable when they are small as they are more rare.  Therefore, antique doll quilts are highly prized, whether they are made by children or adults.  Nostalgia and the romance of times long ago emanate from these small wonders, especially since we know their makers imbued them with love.  After all, they were made for the dolls which little girls used to emulate a mother tending her family.

 On the other hand, crib quilts were made for children.  Everyday use and frequent washing meant they were subject to much wear and eventually discarded.  The fact that so few survive makes them highly prized. 

 The names Pilgrim and Roy have gained international recognition in the quilting world. Paul and Gerald started working with antique quilts in the early 1960s when their interior decorating business prompted them to purchase antique quilts for clients. Each having a strong background in the fine arts, they also began collecting quilts solely for their aesthetic value. Today, the Pilgrim/Roy collection is composed of 2,500 quilts for sale and show and quilt-related objects, including fabrics and all kinds of antique sewing tools.  The Boston Museum of Fine Arts featured, Quilts and Color a blockbuster exhibit of sixty quilts from The Pilgrim/Roy Collection exhibit this year.    

 This unique collection of doll and crib quilts will be on exhibit from November 1 – December 7, 2014 at the Warner Historical Society’s Upton Chandler House Museum at 10 West Main Street in Warner, N.H.  Hours of the exhibit are Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00.   All proceeds benefit the Warner Historical Society. 

 Gerald Roy will host a talk entitled, “Ask the Expert: Curious about your Old Quilt?” beginning at 2:00 p.m. on November 22 at the Warner Town Hall located at 5 East Main Street.  The public may bring quilts for Gerald Roy to comment on and about but there will be no written or verbal appraisals.  Admission for the talk is $10.00.  Quilt commentary requests will be $5.00 per quilt.

 For the full schedule with dates, times, locations see http://www.warnerhistorical.org